Shedding motion of healds for jacquard weaving machines

ABSTRACT

A shedding motion capable of individual operation of the healds in textile machines, particularly Jacquard weaving machines, involving high acceleration and deceleration of the healds. According to the invention, control of positive individual oscillatory and/or reciprocal movements of the yarn guiding means or the healds of the machine is realized by the intermediary of pulses from a selection device. The yarn guiding means are provided with catches and gripping or locking means are adapted, in their upper and lower positions, respectively, to engage the catches so that the yarn guiding means can be carried along by these catches.

llnite States atent [1 1 Lauritsen [111 3,810,492 [451 May 14, 1974 SHEDIDING MOTION 0F HEALDS FOR JACQUARD WEAVING MACHINES [22] Filed: June 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 260,926

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 6/1965 Seiler ..l39/59 3,45l,l29 6/1969 Alonso et al l39/59 Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Browne, Beveridge, De- Grandi & Kline 5 7] ABSTRACT A shedding motion capable of individual operation of the healds in textile machines, particularly Jacquard weaving machines, involving high acceleration and deceleration of the healds. According to the invention, control of positive individual oscillatory and/or reciprocal movements of the yarn guiding means or the healds of the machine is realized by the intermediary of pulses from a selection device. The yarn guiding means are provided with catchesand gripping or locking means are adapted, in their upper and lower positions, respectively, to engage the catches so that the yarn guiding means can be carried along by these catches.

3 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATEHTEDMAY 14 I874 SHEET 2 OF 9 FIGS PATENTEBMAY 14 mm SHEET 3 BF 9 FIG. I00

PATENTEUMM 14 mm SHEET 4 OF 9 'JPMENYEMAY 14 1974 3,810.49 2

sum 7 0? 9 FIG/4 SHEDDING MOTION OF HEALDS FOR JACQUARD WEAVING MACHINES This invention relates to a device capable of mechanically providing control of positive individual oscillatory and/or reciprocal movements of yarn guiding means in textile machines, preferably the healds in weaving machines, by the intermediary of pulses derived from a selection device.

The marked increase of competition between production from knitting machines and other rapid methods of producing fabrics has led to great efforts in further developing high speedweaving machines (280 550 picks per minute) and average speed looms and weaving machines operating 180 to 280 picks per minute capable of producing fabrics of wider widths than was formerly the custom.

Such cases involve substantial acceleration and dcceleration of the healds themselves. At speeds more than 280 picks per minute or in the case of very wide looms thelimit for satisfactory running of conventional Jacquard equipment and harnesses with lingoes is exceeded. In order to accelerate and decelerate the healds in a suitable manner it is necessary to control them with appropriate forces during the shedding action. For thispurpose a new shedding system with individual as well as positive operation of the healds has become an absolute necessity. Up to now this requirement has been very hard to meet for constructional, technical and economic reasons. This is due to the following important factors:

1. Individual selection and simultaneous positively controlled operation of the healds.

2. High speed.

3. The possibility of varying the Jacquard tie up, in

other words the pattern repeat, for example straight tie up, repeating tie up in a design such as diamond manner, compound tie up, possibility of enlarging the weave (presumably repeat size) the repeating tie in stripes, the tie up for corner pattern, and basic ground weave of the cloth itself .etc. 4. Simple and rapid adjustment to different sets of warp threads, i.e. number of warp threads per centimetre in the reed. 5. The possibility of open shed weaving. 6. Producing a so-called clear shed (this may mean clear in the line of producing Schraegfach where the upper and lower sheds are flat sheets by moving the back healds a greater distance than the front ones). -7. Easy accessibility to the healds when mending broken warp threads. 8. Convenient exchange of the healds. 9. The possibility to alter the machine by a simple method from open shed to closed shed.

What is said in 9 was earlier not a specific requirement, but is a necessity when wishing to reach higher speeds. That actually meant is explained more precisely as follows.

In the textile industry there are several weaving mills producing fabrics that are not very well woven by open shed mechanisms. Examples are fabrics of linen (tablecloths) and fabrics with smooth yarns in either the warp or the weft (in the English sense one would normally put in specific comment such as filament yarns or are in the open shed position (upper or lower shed) when the reed drives the weft threads forward, the weft has a tendency to be pushed back by the warp threads when the reed leaves the fell of the cloth to the rear position. The weft threads lie, as is well known, in a wedge shaped strip between the warp threads when they are pressed up to the fabric. The backward force caused by the warp threads is clearly higher than that when the shed is a closed shed.

Certain smooth yarns will thus cause a flow" giving unsatisfactory or diffuse contours to the design. Hence, weaving mills producing this kind of fabric will warmly welcome a high speed closed shed Jacquard device. The machine constructor would probably be very satisfied because building a shedding device is foreseen with the possibility of simple and quick changeover from the open shed system to closed shedding. That would mean considerable rationalization of the production of the machine builder.

I would here like to add a new expression to the terminology of textile technology, namely.

Combi-shed Machine. This operates with a combination of closed shed and open shed techniques. Warp threads bottom shed, are subject to several selections involving remaining in thebottomshed, in fact move every cycle from bottom to closed shed position and tem, facilitates adjustment to different sets of warp shiney yarns) with such yarns great demands are made on sharp distinct contours between the figured pattern and the ground weave. Since most of the warp threads threads, produces a so-called clear shed and reduces mass forces. According to the invention, a pair of catches in the shape of hooks or studs is arranged at the yarn guiding means or at means arranged in the prolongation thereof, the upper one of the two catches is adapted, in an upper position of the yarn guiding means into which said means has been moved by a selection device, to be actuated and carried along by an upwardly movable gripping or locking mechanism, while the lower catch is left unactuated by a downwardly moving gripping or locking mechanism, the lower catch is adapted, in a lower position of the yarn guiding means into which said means has been moved by the selection device, to be actuated and carried along by a downwardly movable gripping or locking mechanism, while the upper catch is left unactuated by said mechanism, and the hooks, studs or like elements in the pair of catches are adapted, simultaneously as the selection takes place, to be moved laterally relative to one another and longitudinally of the yarn guiding means.

The invention will be more fully described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings which schematically indicate different functions and devices. The specification gives an account of five new designs.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention as applied to a wholly mechanical shedding motion;

FIG. 2 is a view of the same embodiment but at completed selection phase, only two sinkers or healds being shown for greater clarity in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the same embodiment as in FIG. 2 applied to a pneumatical selection device;

FIG. 5 on a larger scale shows the mechanism according to FIGS. 1-4;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show from three different directions how stop bars are mounted in the first embodiment;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a so-called indexing apparatus which establishes the distance between the healds or sinkers;

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the indexing apparatus;

FIG. 12 shows various operating phases of a device according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 on a larger scale shows the lower portions of the locking mechanisms during phases f, a, b, d and e according to FIGS. 12 and 13;

FIG. 15 is a magnification of a further embodiment;

FIG. 16 on a larger scale shows still another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device being broken into sections A, B and C for greater clarity.

In the first embodiment the mechanical gripping and locking unit comprises two locking mechanisms L1 and L2 which are movable towards and away from each other. Each locking mechanism has a transversely movable stop plate or stop bar Lp which is formed with apertures and intended to cooperate with catches Sk fastened to the sinker or heald P1. The stop plates or stop bars Lp are movable by the action of cams or like means which are disposed at guides for the locking mechanisms. 0

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a wholly mechanical shedding motion in combination with various mechanical selection systems or with selection by means'of harness cords.

FIG. 2 shows the shedding motion at completed selection phase; for greater simplicity but two sinkers or healds with associated selection pins Us and locking pins Sn are shown. This also applies to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show how a pneumatical selection device which has been patented in several countries int.al. the U.S.A. (cf. my US. Pat. No. 3,586,061), is combined with the mechanical device described here for operating locking mechanisms and healds. The selection pins and the locking and heald operating mechanisms are alike in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, but the drawings indicate different phases of the shedding.

For lack of space FIG. 4 does not show the two heald eyes S5. The long vertical black arrow, however, shows the position of the sinkers (healds) at fully developed shed.

The horizontal arrows indicate the directions of movement of the plate P and the locking mechanisms L. and L at the three first phases (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) of developing a new shed. FIG. 2 shows the initial position. In FIG. 2 the plate P and the locking mechanisms L, and L have moved an equally long distance X and a primary shed Ps is developed. At this moment the stop bars Lp have moved a few millimetres to the left in the direction indicated by the arrows. Due to this the black catches Sk have been locked respectively underneath and over the stop bars Lp and Lp In FIG. 2 the left locking pin Sn has latched one of the selection pins Us. Said selection pin and the sinker (the heald) Pl on account of this and due to the upward pressure of the coil spring have remained in the initial position Ul. Since the right selection pin Us has not been latched by the right locking pin, the right sinker has moved the distance X upwards due to the spring pressure between the plate P and the stud K. The upper catch Sk of the right sinker P1 is engaged over the stop bar Lp,. Simultaneously the locking mechanism L has moved downwards the distance X. The bottom catch Sk on the left sinker still is in its initial position, but the stop bar L12 is now locked immediately over said catch. As the bottom locking mechanism continues downwards the stop bar Lp carries along the catch Sk and the left sinker. FIG. 2 shows how the right sinker P1 with its upper catch is on its way upwards after completed selection phase. It can be seen in FIG. 3 how the stud K has left the small coil spring F while the spring F, still is under pressure between the plate P and the stud K of the left sinker. The plate P and the locking mechanism L move fully coincidently.

FIG. 1 shows how the left coil spring Cf exerts a downward pressure on the crossbar of the left locking pin Sn. Thus the smaller counter pressure of the leaf spring Bf is overcome and the bottom part of the locking pin will stop the selection pin Us. The right coil spring, however, is compressed due to strain in the right harness cord H. The leaf spring Bf therefore will keep the right locking pin in neutral position. Notice the short harness movement needed.

In FIG. 2 the function of the locking pins Sn is somewhat different. As they move downwards there is a movement sideways and they enter a pressing position right over the selection pins Us. The selection pins are not only latched but also pressed downwards due to the coil springs Cf, if these are not stopped by strain in the harness cord H. It is shown in the Figure that the left coil spring Cf by way of the locking pin Sn has pressed down the left selection pin Us. It should be mentioned in this connection that springs Cf are stronger than the springs between the plate P and the studs K.

The stops Lk may consist of a stop plate in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 or of stop bars 1 common to several sinkers in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11. FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 show how the stop bars 1 are permitted to slide in sections of sinker catch bars 2. These in turn are movably mounted in slide bars 3 perpendicular to the warp threads. The slide bars 3 are common to all sinker catch bars 2. The slide bars 3 on each side of the sinkers (healds) are pivoted on levers 4 (see FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8). The levers 4 are connected to levers 5 which are pivoted in frames in positions 6. The levers 5 in FIG. 5 are guided by cams 7 and 7 connected to the shafts 8 that are mounted in a sturdy stand along the field of sinkers. The plate P in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 consists in FIG. 5 of sections of sinker guides 9 (only one is visible). These sections are mounted in a way similar to the sections of sinker catch bars 2. The movements are achieved by way of the cams l0 and 10, and the levers l1 and 12. The bottom sinker catch bars also are guided by the cams I0 and 10, via the levers 13, 14 and 15.

Since it is desirable to develop a clear shed, i.e. to get all warp threads 16 in top and bottom shed on the same level, the sinker catch bars 2 and the plate 9 have to be given a turning'motion as they move up and down. This is achieved by e.g. giving the eccentricity of the cams 7 and a different magnitude relative to that of the cams 7 and 10,.

To make the centres a, b and c of the sinker catch bars 2 and the sinker guides 9 move along a straight line, they have to be guided by correctly shaped profiles 17. The rollers 18, pivoted on the slide bars 3, run along the profiles 17.

In order to make the shedding motion as flexible as possible, i.e. to facilitate the adjustment to different sets of warp threads, all the sinkers (healds) work in sections containing 16-32 sinkers each. The distance, i.e. the pitch between each section, shall permit being altered quickly. This is done either with separate dividing combs or with frames according to FIGS. 9 and 10 and FIG. 11. FIG. 11 illustrates how the setting of the pitch may be achieved. Tubular spring guides 19 contain two coil springs 20. These can be tensioned by the knobs 21 connected to the non-turnable screws 22. The pitch is read on the graduations 23 with the aid of the pointers 24 which run in' slots in the spring guides 19. Each section of sinkers 2 is connected to or engaged with one turn of the springs 20. During adjustment the springs must be free to move in their guiding devices. When a new adjustment '(pitch) is finished the tube walls are pressed against the spring, thereby fixing it in its new position. Hence the tubular spring guide consists of two halves which can be pressed against the spring with the aid of the screws 25 in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 12 and 13 indicate six different phases of the shedding of one design. The letters e, f, a, b, c and d correspond to these phases.

FIG. 12 shows a selection system arranged for socalled open shed. In phases e,f, b and c, for the sake of simplicity, the left selection or locking pin 121 is indicated. The intention also is to emphasize that only one locking pin is necessary in a closed shed arrangement. FIG. 13 shows the open shed position of FIG. 12 but with the slanting harness board (perforated bar) not moving. The slanting movable stop bars 115 and 116 and the return bars 105 and 117 are on their way back to the initial position, just leaving the outer turning positions. In the initial position (closed shed) the above mentioned four bars are parallel as in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 shows an enlargement (5 X natural size) of the bottom part of the locking mechanisms and the stop bars during phases f, a, b, c and d in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 (5 X natural size) indicates four dilterent positions a, b, c and d of parts of a third design with mechanical selection. In the first position a, only the right one of two locking mechanisms is visible. The pressure of the coil springs in the other designs has been replaced by the bending stress of the locking pin 108. This stress acts upon the lock guide 107, thereby causing a pull downwards at the upper part of the locking pinrelative to the lock guide. Hence the locking mechanism need only consist of two parts. It should be pointed out that if the stress of the locking pin were acting the other way, i.e. away from the slanting groove 106 of the lock guide 107, a pressure upwards relative to the lock guide would arise. In that case the locking pin might be equipped with a stud 118 and a head 120 and work as in FIGS. 12 and 14. The bending stress of the locking pin will then replace the upward spring pressure of the springs 103.

FIG. 16 A, B and C shows a fourth design, in which the locking pin 108, as in the design in FIG. 15, has to remain in its initial position when selecting those locking mechanisms and healds that are to be brought into top shed position, i.e. during selection phases b, c and d. The design according to FIG. 16 shows that the locking pin 108 does not by itself exert a very strong pressure to the left. The stress in the pin, however, is sufficiently high to keep the locking part 101 fixed in its right position as long as the locking pin is not stopped in its downward movement during selection phases b, c and d.

In all four variations locking pieces 101 of lock guides 107 in one part of the healds (for instance the upper part) cause, by way of guiding devices or selection devices, hooking up .on two reciprocatory bars common to several healds. These bars are here called stop bars. Contrary to earlier designs according to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, they lack laterally movable stop bars. This means a further simplified and less costly device.

The very locking mechanism of the heald now consists of only three movable parts, namely:

the locking piece 101 the coil spring 103, and

the lock guide 107.

In FIG. 15 the spring 103 is dispensed with. This is made possible because the pin 108 connected to the locking piece 101 exerts a pressure, as shown by the transverse arrow, to the right due to bending stresses in the pin. Therefore the locking piece 101 tends to slide down into the groove 106 due. to its shape. So if noexternal force acts upon the pin 108, it will get pressed downwards relative to the lock guide 107.

According to FIG. 12 the spring 103 instead tries to press the pin 108 upwards relative to the lock guide and so far that the shoulders 109 and 129, respectively, are engaged with the lock guide heads 130. Hereby the locking piece 101 is displaced upwards to the left in the grooves 106. Thus the function here is contrary to that shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. This means that the selection pins 111 and 121, respectively, in FIGS. 12 and 13 also have to have a function contrary to that of the selection pins 111 in FIG. 15. While the selection pins 111 and 121, respectively, in FIGS. 12 and 13 in selecting position stop the upward movement of the pins 108, the selection pins 111 in FIG. 15 or the stopping device 122 in FIG. 16 must instead stop the pin 108 when moving downwards. To this end, the selection pins in FIG. 15 are formed with hooks 112 to which the bent ends of the pins 108 can be hooked.

If the selection pins in FIGS. 12 and 13 are in latching position relative to the locking pins 108, this will cause the lock guide 107-.with the heald 114 to enter bottom shed, while hooking up of the locking pins 108 according to FIGS. 15 and 16 will make the lock guide 107 and the heald enter top shed position. Common to both systems, however, is that the locking pieces 101 have the same function and motion. The two systems have two stop bars 115 and 116 in common. The upper one for upward-downward movements when making a top shed and the lower one for downward-upward movements when making a bottom shed. The stop bar 115 or 116 catches the locking piece 101 depending on its position during the selection phase. Furthermore, the three systems have at least two drive or restoring bars and 117 in common.

For greater clarity, the shedding motion shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 will now be described. It consists of the following elements.

A number ofjuxtaposed stop bars 115 and 116 of reciprocatory movement. The upper stop bar 115 takes the healds up from closed shed to top shed and back to closed shed. The lower stop bar 116 takes the healds from closed shed down to bottom shed and back to closed shed. Each stop bar is common to several healds, e.g. 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 healds. Also the drive or restoring bars 105 and 117 work reciprocally. Thus the upper drive bar 105 moves coincidently with the upper stop bar 115 while the lower drive bar 117 moves coincidently with the lower stop bar 116. The locking mechanism attached to the upper parts of the healds runs in notches of these bars. The locking mechanisms consist of the lock guides 107, to which the healds are connected. In the slanting groove 106 of the lock guide 107 there is a locking piece 101 which has its upper part attached to a locking pin 108. The locking pin 108 runs through a notch of the lock guide 107 and exits through its upper part. A stud 118 is attached to the locking pin. A coil spring 103 is disposed on the locking pin between the stud I18 and the lock guide 117. The lock guide 107 is provided with a flange 119. During certain phases of the shedding the drive bars 105 and 117 actuate the stud 118 and the flange 119, respectively. The upper parts of the locking pins may be equipped with a head or hook 120. In one position, in the present instance the right one, selection pins or latching means 121 (pneumatically or mechanically operated) can prevent the locking pin 108 from moving upwards (see phases a, b and c). In another position (for instance the left one) the locking pin 108 is free to move. If the selection pin 121 is in latching position the locking pin 108 will stay in selection or shifting position (initial position). This causes the locking mechanism with the locking piece 101 to engage the stop bar 116 moving downwards from the upper turning position (phase If the selection pin does not latch, the locking pin 108 will be free to move upwards, thereby causing the locking mechanism and the heald to engage the stop bar 115 which is moving upwards from the bottom turning position (phase b).

The operating phases of the shedding motion shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 are as follows. FIG. 12 shows the first three phases of the shedding, here called selection phases. In a the shed is fully developed. e shows how the left locking mechanism has arrived at initial position from bottom shed, while the right locking mechanism has reached initial position on its way down from top shed. Phasefindicates how the left locking mechanism has passed the initial position and is in turning position. In a it has returned to initial position, i.e. selecting position. On the other hand, the right locking mechanism, being in turning position, has come from top shed and passed the initial position in phase e. In phase a it has returned to initial position.

In phase e the bottom stop bar 116 and the bottom restoring bar 117 are on their way up to the top turning and selecting position as shown in phase a. Simultaneously the top stop bar 115 and the top restoring bar 105 are on their way down to the bottom turning and selecting position in phase a. All bars are decelerating. The right locking mechanism with the locking piece 101 urges its bottom hook against the stop bar 116.

The pull at the warp thread and also the mass of the heald and the locking mechanism cause a force upwards against the decelerating stop bar 116. At the same time the locking piece 101 during phase e is prevented by the descending stop bar 115 from sliding into its left position. The weak coil spring 103 is compressed between the stud 118 of the locking pin 108 snd the flange 119 of the lock guide 107 because said lock guide 107, due to thread tension and mass power, exerts a pressure against the bottom hook of the locking piece 101 of the locking pin 108. The locking piece 101 is decelerated due to its being engaged by the stop bar 116 which is decelerating. The head of the locking pin has now reached selecting position. The left selection pin or latching means has already been moved to the left, for which reason the locking pin is not stopped during its continued movement up to the position in I phase f.

Phase f.

The restoring bar 105 is descending in the direction of the arrow. In phase f it strikes the stud 118 of the locking pin 108, thereby stopping the upwardly moving bottom part of the locking piece which hence prevents the lock guide 107 from continuing upwards. Meanwhile also the bottom stop bar 116 has moved upwards and therefore the entire locking mechanism with its heald attached underneath (by means of a bayonet catch or the like) has been lifted over the selecting position.

The first selection phase a.

From the position in phase f the restoring bar 105 moves on down to the selecting position in phase a, thereby pushing the locking pin 108 downwards. Accordingly, the locking pin 108, by means of the bottom portion of the locking piece 101, will push the lock guide 107 back to initial position, where it is stopped via the flange 119 by the restoring bar 117 coming from below.

The second selection phase b.

The restoring bar 105 has turned in its bottom turning position and arrived at the position according to b. Due to the force of the coil spring 103 the stud 118 is now pressed up towards the restoring bar 105. The locking pin 108, and consequently the locking piece 101 join the upwardly moving return bar 105 at the same time as the lock guide, due to the spring force, joins the restoring bar 117 in its downward movement from its upper turning position. Hence the locking piece 101 due to its oblique upper part is pressed against the upper slanting face of the groove 106 and thereby forced to the left, its upper hook being engaged above the stop bar 115. A shoulder 129 on the locking pin 108 has now hit an abutment surface 130 on the upper part of the lock guide 107.

The third selection phase c.

The stop bar is now ascending with increasing speed towards position 0. At the same time the locking piece 101 is forced upwards and the locking pin 8 with its shoulder 129 urges via the abutment surface the lock guide upwards back to and past the initial position. The restoring bar 105 moves upwards coincidently with the stop bar 115 while the restoring bar 117 and the stop bar 116 move correspondingly downwards. The spring 103 keeps the stud 118 pressed against the restoring bar 105. In position c the selection period is over. (When selecting top shed this is actually finished already after phase b). The reciprocal movements upwards and downwards of the respective stop bars 115 and 116 and restoring bars 105 and 117 proceed to the their top turning positions. During the entire top shed motion the warp thread through the heald attached to the locking mechanism pulls with a downwardly directed force. This contributes to the locking mechanism with the hook of the locking pin 108 being pressed down against the stop bar 115 during the deceleration cycle up to the turning position and during the acceleration cycle down from the turning position. Furthermore, the spring 103 acts upon the locking pin 108 keeping its hook pressed out to the left.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show howthe shedding motion can be designed as an open shed machine. The selecting mechanism may consist oftwo arms 121 and 122 of hair-pin shape, which are pivoted on and bent around a pivot pin 123. The two arms can be operated pneumatically or mechanically between two extreme positions. In the left position the'locking pin 108 is free to move upwards, but'if the pattern permits, the right arm 122 which has its bottom part shaped as a hook may remain in its left position and so for instance the head of the locking pin 108, just having passed the top turning position, will engage the hook of the right arm 122, thereby keeping the locking pin and consequently the lock guide 107 with its heald in top shed position. To realize this the restoring bar 105 must move laterally when descending, so that the openings of the bar will be able to pass the studs 118 of those locking pins which are in hook engagement with and retained to the right arm 122. This lateral movement is most simply brought about by causing the restoring bar 105, when moving up and down at the top turning position, to slide along two stationary curved profiles, one in each end of the bar (only the right one is indicated in FIG.'

12), thereby providing a small reciprocating movement s.

In phase d it has been, shown in both FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 how the restoring bar 105 is moved laterally at the same time as it descends. The restoring bar is free to pass the stud 118 of the left lockingpin which is retained in its topposition the open shed position. By means ofa lever 124 attached to latching arms 121 and hook arms 122, and a coil spring 126, interposed between the lever and a harness frame 125, the arms 12] and 122 can be actuated by a harness cord 127 or the like. The harness cord 127 is given its small movement directly by a conventional front needle device (as in a jacquard machine) or like means.

Use may also be made of a selecting system with latching members according to US. Pat. No. 3,586,061 (see FIG. 16), where pneumatically guided latching members are used in combination with a shedding motion chiefly operating in the same way as that shown in FIG. 15.

In these designs, non-actuated locking pins 108 inas the restoring bar 117 has turned in its upper turning position. If the latching arms 122 at the same time is in latching position engages in a hole 134 of the locking pin 108 the locking pin cannot be carried along downwards. Hence the locking piece 101 is forced to the left by the slanting groove 106, the upper hook of the locking piece 101 being pushed in over theascending stop bar 115, which immediately afterwards will move the locking piece 101 upwards. The locking pin 108, connected to the locking piece 101, will in turn push the lock guide 107 up to top shed position (not shown in FIG. 16). The locking pin has two stop holes 134 and 135 and it has an oblique face 136 in its upper part as well as in the bottom parts of the holes 134 and 135. When the locking pin 108 is ascending from bottom shed to closed shed (selecting position), the latching arm 122 is pushed aside by the upper slanting part of the locking pin 108. Simultaneously the latching arm 122 slides up along the slanting face 137 in the bottom part of the chamber 138, and remains in this position until it slides back and down into the stop hole 134 of the locking pin 108. This takes place in the initial position. The movement up to initial position is brought about by means of the restoring bar 117. Since the locking pin 108 is now prevented from moving downwards again by the latching arm 122, the locking mechanism and thus the heald according to the description above are hooked to the stop bar and ascend to top shed. Just before top shed-turning position the stop hole 135 passes the latching arm 122 which falls down and enters the stop hole, whereby the locking pin and thelock guide are retained in their top positions similarly to the left locking pin shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

Should, however, a pattern-guided excess pressure arise in channel 132 before the locking pin has reached its upper turning position, the latching arm 122 is pressed up along the slanting face 137 and on up towards channel 132. The counterhook 139 of the latching arm 122 will be disengaged from the stop hole 135, thereby allowing thelocking pin to pass the latching arm 122 on its way down to the initial position. If there still is an excess pressure in channel 132 while the locking pin is descending, the latching arm 122 is kept in neutral position permitting the upper hole of the locking pin 108 to pass the latching arm 122 unimpededly. As a result, the locking pin 108 and the locking mechanism continue down to bottom shed.

FIG. 16 shows how a ball or a round object may work as a latching means in the same way as described above. It will now be easily realized that the pneumatic selecting device according to my earlier Swedish Pat. No. 325,836 can be used to advantage in combination with the mechanical shedding motions described above.

Finally in the device shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 the shed movements from top shed via closed shed down to bottom shed will now be described.

It is assumed that the right locking mechanism has occupied the same position as the left one in FIG. 12 and now is in operating phase c. The guiding system, e.g. details 124, 126 and 127, has imparted to the selecting pin 121 (the right one) a certain force in the sense towards the head of the locking pin 108. The

locking pin and accordingly the stud 118 are pushed downwards bythe restoring bar 105.

Also the stop bar 115 is descending, and the upper hook of the locking piece 101 rests on said bar. The abutment surface 130 of the lock guide engages the shoulder 129 of the locking pin 108 and the spring 103 is somewhat compressed. In phase f the locking mechanism has continued downwards. In this position the upper side of the restoring bar 117 is at a level with the underside of the lock guide flange 119. The restoring bar 117 is on its way up to the top turning position (initial position). The lock guide 107 has passed initial position and is just turning to move up towards initial position. This motion is achieved by the restoring bar 117. Thus the lock guide 107 is lifted from this position up to the position in phase a, while the restoring bar 105 reaches its bottom position turning position), thereby pressing the stud 118 further downwards, and the spring 103 gets compressed to its maximum. The locking pin 108 and the locking piece 101 have come to their lowest position in the groove 106 of the lock guide 107, the locking piece having been forced to the far right by the lower slanting edge of the groove 106. ln this position the head 120 has descended so far that the stop pin or selecting pin 121 has been pressed in over it, thereby finishing selection phase a.

in selection phase b the stop pin 121 stays put over the head 120. The locking pin 108 still is in initial position due to the tension of the spring 103 between the flange 119 and the stud 118. The head 120 of the locking pin is pressed up against the selecting pin 121 by the force of spring 103. The same force also actuates the flange 119 in the opposite sense, and therefore said flange and the entire lock guide follow the restoring bar 117 downwards.

ln selection phase c the upper slanting edge of the groove 106 in the lock guide 107 has reached the oblique face on the upper side of the locking piece 101. Simultaneously, the downwardly moving stop bar 116 has got in contact with the bottom hook of the locking piece 101. The upper stop bar moves upwards, preventing locking piece 101 and locking pin 108 from sliding to the left.

The selection phases for the motion down to bottom shed are now finished. The locking mechanism, and accordingly the heald connected to it, is pushed further down by the stop bar 116 to the dotted turning position in bottom shed, as shown in phase d. The upward motions from this position have been described in the foregoing.

The combination of movements from bottom shed to closed shed and back to bottom shed and also from top shed to closed shed and back to top shed will be readily understood with the guidance of the movements described above and illustrated in the drawings.

Locking mechanisms and healds are readily exchanged simply by pushing the restoring bars 105 and 117 and by lifting away tee selecting part in one single motion.

Common to the functions of the different designs of the shedding motion according to the invention is: 1. that a means, such as heald, sinker or like element or a locking piece has two catches or stops, 2. that the uppermost hook in an elevated position of the means during the selection phases is caused to engage an upwardly movable stop bar, while the lowermost hook goes free from a simultaneously descending stop bar, 3. that the lowermost hook in a lowered position of the means during the selection phases is caused to engage a simultaneously downwardly movable stop bar while the uppermost hook goes free from the uppermost stop bar, 4. that the two hooks or catches and the two stop bars during the selection phases are simultaneously displaced laterally relative to one another.

What 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a textile weaving machine including yarn guiding means such as healds reciprocally movable in a generally vertical direction between an upper and a lower position and in a generally lateral oscillatory direction, a shedding motion apparatus capable of providing mechanical control of the movement of said yarn guiding means by the intermediary of pulses derived from a selection device, said selection device including a plurality of elongated selection pins mounted for movement longitudinally of said yarn guiding means and connected therewith, guide passage means for guiding s-aid selection pins in their movement longitudinally of said yarn guiding means, one end of said selection pins being adapted to be engaged and held against and released for movement in its longitudinal direction, a pair of catch members arranged one above the other and along the line of vertical movement of said yarn guiding means and 'said selection pins, an upwardly movable locking mechanism operable upon a predetermined upward movement of said yarn guiding means by said selection device and adapted to engage and move the upper one of said catches upward, a downwardly moving locking mechanism operable upon a predetermined downward movement of said yarn guiding means by said selection device and adapted to engage and move thelower one of said catches downward, said lower catch being unactuated by said upward movement of said yarn guiding means and said upper catch being unactuated by said downward movement of said yarn guiding means, said locking mechanisms each including stop bars positioned transversely of said yarn guiding means, said stop bars being guided for upward and downward movement by guide track means, said catch members being located one on each of said stop bars and mounted for lateral movement relative thereto to cover and uncover said guide passages to engagev and retain said selection pins, and cam means for effecting said relative lateral movement of said catch members during said predetermined upward or downward movement of said yarn guiding means.

2. A shedding motion apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking mechanisms further comprises a pair of locking pieces supported for longitudinal displacement relative to said yarn guiding means during the selection cycle, said locking pieces being adapted to be brought into hook engagement with said stop bars to thereby carry the yarn guiding means along therewith.

3. A shedding motion apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising spring means for imparting an initial movement to said selection pins. 

1. In a textile weaving machine including yarn guiding means such as healds reciprocally movable in a generally vertical direction between an upper and a lower position and in a generally lateral oscillatory direction, a shedding motion apparatus capable of providiNg mechanical control of the movement of said yarn guiding means by the intermediary of pulses derived from a selection device, said selection device including a plurality of elongated selection pins mounted for movement longitudinally of said yarn guiding means and connected therewith, guide passage means for guiding said selection pins in their movement longitudinally of said yarn guiding means, one end of said selection pins being adapted to be engaged and held against and released for movement in its longitudinal direction, a pair of catch members arranged one above the other and along the line of vertical movement of said yarn guiding means and said selection pins, an upwardly movable locking mechanism operable upon a predetermined upward movement of said yarn guiding means by said selection device and adapted to engage and move the upper one of said catches upward, a downwardly moving locking mechanism operable upon a predetermined downward movement of said yarn guiding means by said selection device and adapted to engage and move the lower one of said catches downward, said lower catch being unactuated by said upward movement of said yarn guiding means and said upper catch being unactuated by said downward movement of said yarn guiding means, said locking mechanisms each including stop bars positioned transversely of said yarn guiding means, said stop bars being guided for upward and downward movement by guide track means, said catch members being located one on each of said stop bars and mounted for lateral movement relative thereto to cover and uncover said guide passages to engage and retain said selection pins, and cam means for effecting said relative lateral movement of said catch members during said predetermined upward or downward movement of said yarn guiding means.
 2. A shedding motion apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking mechanisms further comprises a pair of locking pieces supported for longitudinal displacement relative to said yarn guiding means during the selection cycle, said locking pieces being adapted to be brought into hook engagement with said stop bars to thereby carry the yarn guiding means along therewith.
 3. A shedding motion apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising spring means for imparting an initial movement to said selection pins. 